AR Dental Jurisprudence flashcards
AR Dental Jurisprudence · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Dental Practice Act citation
- Arkansas dental law is codified in Title 17, Chapter 82 of the Arkansas Code and administered by the State Board of Dental Examiners.
- Definition of dentistry
- Diagnosing and treating conditions of teeth, gums, jaws, and oral structures, including surgery and fitting prosthetic appliances.
- Dental hygiene scope
- Prophylaxis, scaling, root planing, fluoride, sealants, and radiographs performed under supervision levels authorized by Board rule.
- Board authority
- The Board licenses practitioners, adopts rules, inspects facilities, investigates complaints, and imposes sanctions including suspension and revocation.
- Biennial renewal
- Dentist and hygienist licenses renew every two years with a fee; failure to renew results in lapsed status and loss of practice authority.
- Continuing education requirement
- Licensees must complete Board-specified CE hours each cycle, including mandated topics, and retain completion certificates for audit.
- Licensure by credentials
- A pathway allowing licensed dentists from other jurisdictions to obtain Arkansas licensure based on documented practice and credentials rather than re-examination.
- Direct supervision
- The supervising dentist is physically present in the office and has examined the patient before the delegated procedure is performed.
- General supervision
- The dentist authorizes care but need not be present, provided the patient was examined within the timeframe set by Board rule.
- Hygienist local anesthesia
- Administration requires additional Board-approved training and certification and is performed under the supervision level the Board specifies.
- Nondelegable duties
- Diagnosis, treatment planning, and prescription writing cannot be delegated to hygienists or assistants and remain the dentist's responsibility.
- Standard of care
- The degree of care and skill ordinarily exercised by reasonably competent dentists under similar circumstances.
- Record content
- Records include identification, medical and dental history, diagnosis, treatment plan, radiographs, medications, and dated progress notes.
- Informed consent elements
- Disclosure of diagnosis, proposed treatment, material risks, alternatives, and consequences of no treatment, documented in the record.
- Record retention
- Records must be legible, authenticated, and retained for the period required by Board rule and Arkansas law, and made available to patients.
- Sterilization monitoring
- Mechanical, chemical, and biological indicators verify sterilization; a positive biological result requires corrective action and documentation.
- Hand hygiene and gloves
- Hand hygiene before and after patient contact; single-use gloves are changed between patients and after glove removal.
- Sharps disposal
- Used needles and sharp instruments go into puncture-resistant containers; needlestick exposures require immediate evaluation and reporting.
- Surface barriers
- Clinical contact surfaces are covered with barriers or disinfected between patients as part of the infection control protocol.
- DEA registration
- A dentist must hold a valid DEA registration and any required state controlled substance registration to prescribe controlled drugs.
- PDMP check
- Arkansas prescribers must query the prescription drug monitoring program before prescribing certain controlled substances as required by law.
- Prescription contents
- A valid prescription states patient name, drug, strength, quantity, directions, date, prescriber name, and DEA number when applicable.
- Self-prescribing ban
- Prescribing controlled substances to oneself or family members outside legitimate dental care is prohibited and subject to discipline.
- Patient abandonment
- Terminating care without notice, referral, or reasonable opportunity to obtain continued care is unprofessional conduct.
- Fee splitting
- Paying or receiving compensation for patient referrals or splitting fees with non-dentists violates Arkansas dental practice restrictions.
- Confidentiality duty
- Patient information must remain confidential except when disclosure is authorized by law or the patient gives consent.
- Emergency suspension
- The Board may summarily suspend a license when continued practice poses an immediate risk to the public, pending a hearing.
- Disciplinary sanctions
- Available sanctions include reprimand, probation, suspension, revocation, civil penalties, and conditions on continued practice.
- Hearing and appeal
- Respondents receive notice and a hearing; final Board orders may be appealed to circuit court under the Act.
- Specialist advertising
- A dentist may not advertise as a specialist unless holding the specialty certification recognized by the Board.
- Practice ownership
- A dental practice must be owned and controlled by a licensed dentist; non-dentist ownership is restricted by law.
- Child abuse reporting
- Dentists and hygienists must report suspected child abuse or neglect to the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline within the statutory timeframe.